Day 2 in San Diego
I just finished my 2nd day of teaching in San Diego and saw truly fantastic horses and riders.
To be totally frank and honest, I’ve seen more quality horse-flesh and riding out here than anywhere else in the country.
And I ask myself, “Why?”
So here is my theory- take it or leave it.
For many years the majority of top riders and horses were on the east coast, primarily in the north-east and Florida in winters.
But as fate would have it, some wonderfully talented Germans decided thay had had enough of the cold and rain of their native land and moved to the place with the best weather just about anywhere, San Diego.
And guess what - they flourished. It took some hard work and some luck but each found their clients as well as their sponsors and they carved out a name for themselves and eventually made one or more Olympic teams.
In the meantime, the riders they taught as well as those who just watched from a far saw that these riders were excelling and tried to figure out why. If they were smart, they asked them for lessons as well as to help them select future mounts if they were unsure what was most suitable for them.
Over time the Californians have surpassed the rest of the country both in their selection of wonderful horses and their understanding that style, elegance, and attention to detail are the qualities which make up the foundation of top Dressage training
This most certainly does not mean that there are no great riders or horses back east. There most certainly are, but it is definitely obvious by the results of our previous decade of championships that the west coast is producing the lion share of our combinations.
While we are all Americans and equally proud of everyone representing the U.S., there has always been a kind of competitive rivalrey between the two coasts and I don’t think that’s bad.
What I do think is that we need to look at and respect the reasons why the Californians have produced such great results and bring the rest of our great country up to their high standard using every bit of knowlege and expertise to do so.
The goal should be to bulid squads so strong that we can field multiple medal winning teams at every international level.
Cheers!
RD
Beth — July 12, 2009 @ 8:01 am
I think there is more sponsorship money in California. The wealthy are willing to allow their trainer the best horse, and go along for the exciting ride. In the East we had riders like you, Betsy Steiner, Gunnar, Debbie Bowman, etc…..but only you were really able to keep the international caliber horses at your fingertips. Recently I recall reading about fundraisers for Courtney (Idocus). Can’t imagine a bake sale or car wash to benefit Gunter, Steffen, or Debbie. Surely there has been no shortage of money to be spent by Easterners. With dressage interest for decades from such families as Zeigler, Newberry, Dorrance, Dansby, Dixon, McElree, Forbes-Clark, etc., there certainly was potential for rider sponsorship such as Gunter and Debbie enjoy. Don’t know what the answer is…maybe Easterners are more frugal or conservative….or “do-it-yourselfers”.
Lendon Gray — July 13, 2009 @ 2:50 pm
Robert,
I appreciate your comments, but makes me sad is that you had to say “wonderfully talented Germans” went to CA. Why is it not possible to be able to say “wonderfully talented Americans”….. How I wish we in America could develop riders to be such wonderful riders in the numbers that the Germans do. I am very disappointed that our teams are not made up of home bred Americans developed by Americans. (Nothing against those who chose to bring their talent and education here to America. Thanks for sharing)
RDover2 — July 13, 2009 @ 3:28 pm
Hi Lendon.
I get exactly what you are saying but the good news here is that those Germans arrived many years ago and guess what- I am proud to say I had a bit of a role in training them as well as securing them with Olympic mounts.
So, our friends became Americanss and great role models which in turn inticed so many others to reach for the stars just as they have done and continue to do. Not only are they very proud American citizens; they are mostly trained here in the United States.
Cheers!
RD